On the contrary, my co-worker has had his E92 M3 since last week and hates the 6-spd in it... at least for his commute into work. Today he drove his wife's Range Rover but otherwise hated it the last few days driving into downtown LA with the manual gearbox. He said he liked driving his old E60 M5 becuase that at least was more comfortable to drive in traffic and still had plenty of power when needed. He likes his M3 and wants to keep on driving it on a daily basis but now plans on going to the dealership later this week to put down a deposit on the DCT model that comes out in the summer because he likes that setup better, and will trade in his 6-spd.

And before people start to say that it's a better setup for the track or racing, he has a 360 CS that is dedicated for runs at the track so I don't think he's worried about that.

He had no idea he would have to shift a manual trans so much when he bought it, or he couldn't wait one more month?

He had no idea he would have to shift a manual trans so much when he bought it, or he couldn't wait one more month?

After owning a 996 GT2 for a few years, one would think that he knows how to drive a manual no problem, especially in LA traffic. I guess when you have cash to throw and want a specific car, you're not going to wait around.

When he placed his order and threw down a deposit a year ago, there were no dates or prices available for DCT and early predictions were mid/late 2008. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there was an allocated DCT model that comes in next month sitting around at the dealership and he just buys that.

After owning a 996 GT2 for a few years, one would think that he knows how to drive a manual no problem, especially in LA traffic. I guess when you have cash to throw and want a specific car, you're not going to wait around.

When he placed his order and threw down a deposit a year ago, there were no dates or prices available for DCT and early predictions were mid/late 2008. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there was an allocated DCT model that comes in next month sitting around at the dealership and he just buys that.

The car has only been launched for a couple days, so give it some time! This is a $70,000 piece of toy - not a $300 iPhone.

People who really want an M3 (like us) already ordered. The ones on the dealer lots are only supposed to be demos (most of them have full options), but many dealers are ignoring bmw's advice and marking them up way high for sale. So most rational people (who don't want it ASAP) would rather order one @ MSRP.

Moreover, M3 customers are usually enthusiasts who are very picky about color, options, etc., so that's why a lot of people would rather order them to get the exact car they want.

Last, how do you know there are "so many"? Just because there are serveral threads on this forum? M3 is a mass production car, so of course there will be ones sitting around on the lot.

+1. The stealers want as much $ as they can get out of these first ones while they are still rare and if someone is willing to pay, so be it. They might also want to keep the showroom floor models around for a bit until more M3s start arriving.

+1. The stealers want as much $ as they can get out of these first ones while they are still rare and if someone is willing to pay, so be it. They might also want to keep the showroom floor models around for a bit until more M3s start arriving.

Me too . I'm under no delusions here. While it is a better performing car than the M3 I'm not sure if it as livable as the M3 and with what Nissan said about bringing only 1500 GT-Rs into the US (but there has been speculation that they'll bring more) the demand will be kept high ==> dealer markups for a while.

Seriously, I was just kidding with my remark about everyone waiting for the GT-R.

I talked to my local nissan dealer they want +$20K and say they are just getting 2 GTRs this year so I don't think the GTR is as much in play for me. I'm having a hard enough time with the idea of a $70K M3 let alone a $94K Nissan.

If I can locate a msrp GTR that would be my choice but I do not want to pay +$20K games.

I talked to my local nissan dealer they want +$20K and say they are just getting 2 GTRs this year so I don't think the GTR is as much in play for me. I'm having a hard enough time with the idea of a $70K M3 let alone a $94K Nissan.

If I can locate a msrp GTR that would be my choice but I do not want to pay +$20K games.

Yeah, with about 600 and some odd qualified dealers in the US, that works out to about 2 or 3 cars per year. However, some forums were implying that this is not realistic and Nissan is trying to create demand by saying this. Can't vouch for this, only a rumor. We'll see. Still the GT-R is more expensive than the M3, even a loaded M3.

Yeah, with about 600 and some odd qualified dealers in the US, that works out to about 2 or 3 cars per year. However, some forums were implying that this is not realistic and Nissan is trying to create demand by saying this. Can't vouch for this, only a rumor. We'll see. Still the GT-R is more expensive than the M3, even a loaded M3.

Yeh, a GTR is an amazing car, very easy to drive on the street and on the race track, the car is really scary. I have a friend that works for UNIVERSAL NISSAN, hes going to call me as soon as they get one, i really want to take a good look at this car, i saw it at the LA AUTO SHOW, and i was extremely impressed with the car. It has alot of good qualities to it, i can see the interior from a distance but it looks very clean with the suede inserts, their are youtube videos of it beating the TURBO..the only thing stopping me from turning in my 335i for this is the fact that its a NISSAN 90K for a nissan ehhhhh i dont know yet, i have to see it and feel it.. than i will make a decision

The car has only been launched for a couple days, so give it some time! This is a $70,000 piece of toy - not a $300 iPhone.

People who really want an M3 (like us) already ordered. The ones on the dealer lots are only supposed to be demos (most of them have full options), but many dealers are ignoring bmw's advice and marking them up way high for sale. So most rational people (who don't want it ASAP) would rather order one @ MSRP.

Moreover, M3 customers are usually enthusiasts who are very picky about color, options, etc., so that's why a lot of people would rather order them to get the exact car they want.

Last, how do you know there are "so many"? Just because there are several threads on this forum? M3 is a mass production car, so of course there will be ones sitting around on the lot.

For using Common Sense before you made a post!

US dealers received ONE or TWO $70,000.00+ demos, only about "five minutes" ago!

well, after all the anticipation, i've pulled my order. going to keep my 540 for another year and see what my options are then. give it some time for the bugs to be worked out and prices to drop (in this economy, they will). getting myself a consolation price though.. alpineweiss, e30 m3!! will post pics shortly.

I have to agree regarding a 90K Nissan? I have owned over 20 cars since the mid 90's and was the most disappointed with my recent 350Z and G35. The motor was decent, yet I could not get past the overall cheap feel and build quality of Nissan's cars.

I too thought about the price drop issue. I know that the markup on MSRP will go away eventually. (tho if you negotiate, and look around enough, you will not have to pay a markup even now).

As for the price dropping - I wonder how the weak dollar is going to play into German car prices? I seriously wonder about if they will be able to drop the price, as effectively, they are price dropping it everyday as the dollar weakens against the euro...

Wow - not sure i'd want any of those. Certainly not the cayman S, and after the GT3 - the carrera would be a downgrade. Gransport - it was on my shortlist of cars to get - tho maintenance on them could be an issue.

Wow - not sure i'd want any of those. Certainly not the cayman S, and after the GT3 - the carrera would be a downgrade. Gransport - it was on my shortlist of cars to get - tho maintenance on them could be an issue.